Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 25

-𝑰𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝑲𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒊-

It had been two months since she broke the "Buhle news" to the Mntungwa trio, and every other day she would wake up to Clive sitting on her door step. She actually enjoyed that part. She enjoyed seeing him beg, because they never beg. That's what they were known for, they never begged women. Between going to her place every other day, he sent lunch at work too. But thank goodness he stopped filling up her office with flowers. All of a sudden she hated flowers.

They had planned a girls' trip: Sanda, Iyana and Uyabukwa.

It had been a long year and they were all in different provinces so they needed to catch up. Her leave application was approved, she just had to do shopping for the trip before the other two came to pick her up. They were driving Sanda's car for the trip. As she finished up getting dressed, she saw his car driving up the driveway and sighed. Yes she was used to it now, but that specific day was not the day to be seeing or arguing with him. She just wanted peace. She needed peace. That was the whole point of the coming trip.

She grabbed her bag, and keys then walked out hoping they only bump at the bottom of the stairs. Unfortunately, as she opened the door, he was already standing there. Looking miserable.

Iyana: I am on my way out.

Clive: Saw'bona.

Iyana: I am on my way out.

Clive: I just need five minutes of your time.

She stepped aside so he could walk in and then she followed behind him. They sat across each other, a part of her felt really sorry for him. He had even lost weight. He looked like he hadn't been taking care of himself. She sighed, rolling her mental eyes at what she was about to ask.

Iyana: Ndikwenzele ukutya?

Clive: Are you going to eat with me?

Iyana: I'm not hungry.

Clive: No... thanks.

She huffed, got up and went to the kitchen to prepare him breakfast.

He may have hurt her but she still loved him and seeing him not doing well after the breakup hurt her even more. Talk about a confused human being. She returned to the lounge and set the tray on the table, came back with a bowl and cloth so he would wash his hands and when that was done, she shared the couch with him and started eating. She didn't have to invite him, he dug in and a few minutes later he stopped and just looked at the opposite couch. His mind seemingly wandering about.

Clive: I know ukuthi you want out, I vowed that I would respect you and give you time to think things through. But what I didn't promise was leaving you, entirely. That is one thing I cannot do.

She didn't respond.

Clive: I am well aware ukuthi there is no time-frame for healing, forgiving and trusting again kodwa ngith'angize kwakhona kuwena and remind you that I still love you. I do not expect you to accept me back immediately, I do not expect you to be head over heels with me, kodwa engik'celayo ukuthi nje unginikeze ithuba les'bili to prove myself to you. To prove what I have been saying, proclaiming. Ngiyak'ncenga MaDabane, ngikonile yebo ngiyavuma kodwa ngiyak'cela ungixolele.

She didn't respond still.

Clive: Inhliziyo yami ifuna wena kuphela Iyana, these past two months felt like two years without you. Kunzima ngisho uk'lala kwami ngoba ngizovuka ungekho eduze kwami... angizanga lana to manipulate you into forgiving me kodwa ngiyacela bandla, ngiyancenga.

Her phone rang... It was Uyabukwa.

She looked at him, he nodded so she answered the phone right there.